Scientists at Siberian Federal University (SFU) have developed a novel method for extracting gallium, a valuable metal, by recycling aluminum waste. This breakthrough was highlighted in a report by RT, referencing the university’s research teams and their collaboration with Russia’s Ministry of Education and Science. The new process reflects ongoing efforts to turn industrial byproducts into strategic materials, aligning with Russia’s broader emphasis on resource efficiency and advanced materials research.
Gallium is a brittle metal with a wide range of applications. It is essential for modern thermometry, and it also plays a critical role in electronics, optics, and satellite communications. Industry analysts note that gallium holds strategic importance due to its specialized uses and its scarcity relative to demand in high-tech sectors. The metal is not found in concentrated deposits and is typically distributed unevenly within rocks, complicating traditional mining and recovery methods.
Historically, gallium has been recovered from the processing of polymetallic ores or as a byproduct of coal combustion. A large portion of gallium in circulation today originates from waste generated by aluminum production. Conventional extraction from this waste relies on a particular solvent-based method, which presents notable disadvantages, including limited scalability and toxicity concerns associated with the solvents used. Olga Buiko, Doctor of Chemical Sciences and a researcher at SFU, has commented on these limitations and emphasized the need for safer, scalable industrial approaches.
The SFU team introduced a three-stage extraction technology designed to address these challenges. In the first stage, carbon concentrate is heated to 600 ºC, and the ash is treated with hydrochloric acid to remove gallium. The resulting solution undergoes purification using a sorbent, which captures gallium from the liquid. In the final step, the gallium is eluted from the sorbent with distilled water, yielding a purified form suitable for further processing. This sequence represents a shift away from solvent-intensive methods toward a more streamlined and potentially less hazardous workflow.
As a result of this approach, researchers obtained what they refer to as technical gallium. The process does not merely extract metal; it also reduces the overall volume of waste produced by aluminum industries, addressing environmental concerns associated with aluminum processing and contributing to more sustainable manufacturing practices. The technology also aims to lower production costs by simplifying the recovery sequence and reducing stepwise selection of solvents and reagents.
Russia currently produces a substantial share of the world’s primary aluminum—roughly 4.1 million tons annually—placing the country among the top producers globally. This scale underscores the potential impact of improved gallium recovery from aluminum waste, given the metal’s economic and strategic value in high-tech sectors. Continuous research and industrial pilots in this area are part of Russia’s broader strategy to strengthen domestic supply chains for critical materials and to explore opportunities for expanding aluminum-derived products and byproducts within the European and global markets. The significance of this gallium recovery work is tied to wider efforts to optimize industrial waste streams, increase byproduct utilization, and promote cleaner, more efficient metal production processes.